Elbląg is one of the oldest towns in Northern Poland. It is situated on the river Elbląg, which joins lake Drużno with Zalew Wiślany. The city is regional capital and has a population of 126,460.

The first mention of the area, which includes Elbląg, can be found in the writings of the Anglo-Saxon traveller Wulfstan, who visited these area in the 9th century. The erection of a castle in 1237 by the Teutonic Order initiated Elbląg's development. At the beginning of the 14th century Elbląg was the main port of the Teutonic Order. By the time Gdańsk was captured by the Teutonic Order, Elbląg had its own fleet, was building ships, and as a member of the Hanseatic League was involved in lively trading relations with many of the towns on the Baltic Sea.

The domination of the Teutonic Order in the area had painful consequences for the inhabitants of Elbląg, and gave rise to their repeated attempts to gain Polish status. After the battle of Grunwald, Elbląg paid tribute to King Jagiełło, in 1440 it joined the Prussian Union, in 1454 the inhabitants of Elbląg attacked and captured the Teutonic Order's castle, and in both the Thirteen Years' War and the Teutonic Knights' war with Poland they bravely repelled the attacks of the Teutonic army. The fulfilment of Elbląg's expectations through the incorporation of Prussian lands into the Polish Crown by Kazimierz Jagiellończyk made the town
a part of Poland until the first Partition of Poland.

In the time of Zygmunt August the construction of a Polish war fleet was begun in the Elbląg shipyard. The galleon "Smok" along with other smaller vessels: a frigate and a small sailing ship were to comprise the beginnings of a regular fleet. The death of the King frustrated the plans and "Smok" which was launched in June 1571 was never fitted out and never passed into service.

The wars in the 17th and 18th centuries brought the town destruction and looting, for which the Swedish and Russian armies were mainly responsible. The town collapsed, the shipping, trade and craft industries wilted, and the poorer inhabitants gradually abandoned Elbląg and moved to other towns. The stagnation in Elbląg lasted until the middle of the 19th century. Later, railway lines were laid from Bydgoszcz, Olsztyn, Ostróda and Braniewo to Elbląg, and the town was granted the right to use the Elbląg Canal with its system of locks, which overcome the difference in water level between lake Drużno and the group of lakes in Pojezierze Iławsko-Ostródzkie Lake District. These changes stimulated the revival of Elbląg's economy.

Elbląg's dynamic development continued until the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1837 a small metal works was built in Elbląg by Frederick Schichau, which developed and transformed into large plants producing steamships, locomotives, agricultural machines and bridge structures. Apart from the metal industry, the food and agriculture industry and the building industry also developed. At that time many oil producers, breweries, brickyards and even a cigar factory came into existence. In 1895 an electric tramline was built in Elbląg; at the time even Berlin had not yet managed to obtain this means of transport for its inhabitants.

In 1945, after 175 years, Elbląg once again returned to Poland. Not even
a single house remained from the Old Town. The industrial establishments and factories had been destroyed along with their equipment. What had not been destroyed had been taken away. The inhabitants of Elbląg abandoned the town, and settlers took their place from the East and repatriates from the West.

Today, the dominant branch of industry in the town is the electrical and the shipbuilding industry, of which an example is ALSTOM POWER (the former Zamech Engineering Plants created from Schichau's factory) - a producer of power turbines and the company "Elzam". The great importance has the food and drink industry, whose main representative is the Grupa Żywiec SA Browar in Elbląg.

Navigation information

Position:

Lat. 54° 10' N

Long. 19° 23' E

The port of Elbląg is a newly opened seaport. It is situated on the banks of the Elbląg river and about 6 miles from its mouth at the Zalew Wiślany.

The Elbląg river has the natural inland shipping connection trough the Jagieloński Channel, Nogat and Wisła river. These waterways permit vessel to reach the inland ports of Malbork, Tczew, Gdańsk and Bydgoszcz, Berlin, etc.

The port accepts vessels of length up to 90 m, max. width of 16 m and max. draught of 2.2 m.

The approaching fairway from the Zalew Wiślany begins at the light-beacon "Elbląg". It is 50 m wide and has a depth of 2.5 m. The mouth of the Elbląg river is limited by two breakwaters, the western protrudes 1.6 Nm into the Zalew Wiślany. There is a pontoon bridge, 2.5 Nm upstream in the river, situated in the village Nowakowo which is 21 m wide.

The water level in the Zalew Wiślany and port of Elbląg depends on the direction and strength of the wind. With the winds from the NW and N there is
a high water, with the winds from SW
a low water is observed. It varies up to 1.2 m. The Zalew Wiślany freeze over for about 100 days in a year, usually starting in December. The ice is 30-50 cm thick.

Port of Elbląg is located on both sides of the river extending about 4.5 km upstream. The river channel is 50-100 m wide and is dredged to a depth of 3.5 to 4.5 m. It allows entry the port by vessels of up to 90 m in length and max. width of 16 m. The port consists of 2.5 km long quays, 5 port basins and the turning area of 120 m in diameter. Entrance to the south part of the port ("Elzam" Quay, Municipal Quay) is limited by the 8.7 m air draft of the railway bridge crossing the river. Most of quays belong to industrial companies and are equipped with railway systems, gantry and mobile cranes and other loading facilities. In the central part of the port, near the old town, there is the 100 m long quay for passenger ships.

An impressive number of passengers make use of the ships and hydrofoils provided by marine transport companies, to sail to Krynica Morska, Frombork, Ostróda and Kaliningrad, Bałtijsk.

Pilot services are available daily from dawn to dusk, except when icedup. Vessels inward-bound [in the Gulf of Kaliningrad (Polish and Russian flag only) or at the pump stations in Osłonka] should contact the Pilot Station at least 12 h in advance of the pilot boarding. Vessels outward-bound should contact The Pilot Station at least 2 h in advance of the pilot boarding.

For radiotelephony connections are VHF Channel 71 and 16

Port facilities

Power Plant QuayIt is 250 m long and has a depth of 2.5 m. It is equipped with railway system and unloading facilities for coal.

Rolimpex QuayIt is 230 m long and has a depth of 2.5 m. Presently specialising in the handling of coal. A grain elevator is located here with 14,000 m3 capacity.

Elzam QuayIt's 1.300 m in length and has a depth of 2.5 m. The port basin, situated in the middle of the quay, is equipped with gantry cranes with a 200 t lifting capacity for heavy lift goods. Elzam - Zamech Basin - depth of 2.0m.

Municipal QuayIt's 250 m long and provides depth of 2.5 m. There are located warehouses.

Private Quay - General Cargo Warehous Dojazdowa Str.It is 250 m long and has a depth of 1.0 m. There are openstorage areas.

Private Coal QuayWarehouses 150 m2 firm "Rożek"

General Cargo TerminalIt has got 2 quays of 90 m in length and 15 m ro-ro ramp a depth 3.8 m.Total storage area is 30,000 m2. A warehouse and a shed is located there. Moreover, the terminal is supervised.

International Passenger Terminal (it belongs to Port)It is 200 m long and has a depth of 3.7m.

Bulwar Zygmunta Augusta (it belongs to Port)It is 220 m long and has a depth of 2.5m.

Gdańskie Quay (it belongs to Port)It is 185 m long and has a depth of 2.5m

Quay on Dojazdowa Str (it belongs to Port)It is 153 m long and has a depth of 2.0m.

Cargo traffic in statistics

The total throughputs of the Port of Elbląg amount to:

Year

Total [x 1000 t]

1995

144.8

1996

354.8

1997

641.4

1998

148.3

1999

40.9

2000

36.4

2001

37.9

2002

46.1

2003

142.7

2004

78.3

2005

126.9

2006

14.5

2007

3.5

2008

6.5

By 1998 coal had contributed the greatest amount in the port's turnover. In 1999 port mostly sand and other bulk cargoes were handled.

Charges

REMARK

All rates quoted in this chapter are subject to change over the year. The prices are given for evaluation purpose.

Charges are given according to the Act of Law dedicated to maritime ports and harbours (journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland 1997 no.9, item 44 with further changes).

Tonnage dues

The tonnage dues to be calculated on base of vessel's GT including quantity of discharged cargo and/or loaded cargo (gross weight).

Sea-going vessels

Type and size of the vessel

EUR/1 GT

Passenger vessels

0.15

Push-units and towing trains

0.25

Others

0.25

Inland-going and harbour vessels

Type and size of the vessel

EUR/1 GT

Vessels of length up to 24 m

0.11

Vessels with length more than

24 m to 50 m

0.11

Vessels with length more than

50 m to 70 m

0.11

Vessels with length more than 70 m

0.11

Tugboats and pushers

0.10

Barges, scows and pontoons, not self-propelled

0.10

Quay dues

Sea-going vessels

Type and size of the vessel

Time spent at the quay

EUR/1 GT

passenger

For the time used for merchant activity + 4 hours

0.11

Others

For the time used for merchant activity + 4 hours

0.16

Inland-going and harbour vessels

Type and size of the vessel

EUR/1 GT

Vessels of length up to 24 m

0.08

Vessels with length more than 24 m to 50 m

0.08

Vessels with length more than 50 m to 70 m

0.08

Vessels with length more than 70 m

0.08

Tugboats, pushers

0.10

Passenger dues

Type and size of the vessel

EUR/per passenger

Ferries and ro-pax

0.25

Passenger and other sea-going vessels above 1000 GT

0.25

Inland-going and harbour vessel up to 1000 GT

0.25

Harbour and inland vessels

0.25

Pilotage

The charges for pilotage services are quoted according to the Tariff for pilotage service in the port of Gdańsk, the port of Elbląg and Zalew Wiślany of the "GDAŃSK-PILOT" Maritime Services Enterprise, valid from August 1st, 2008.

The charges refer to piloting inwards or outwards of vessels to/from roads of the port Gdańsk and shipyards area.

The tariff rates are expressed in EUR currency and do not contain V.A.T.

Pilotage dues shall be collected on the volume V of ship/vessel, expressed in cubic metres calculated according to the following formula: V=LxBxT in which L=length overall of the ship or towing train; B=extreme breadth of the ship or towing train; T= summer draught of the ship or towing train, up to the summer load-line. (Figures stated in metres and centimetres).

Basic rates

Volume (V) [m3]

EUR

from

to

1

2,000

130

2,001

3,000

160

3,001

4,000

180

4,001

5,000

200

5,001

6,000

230

6,001

7,000

250

7,001

8,000

270

8,001

9,000

300

9,001

10,000

320

10,001

11,000

340

11,001

12,000

360

12,001

13,000

390

13,001

14,000

410

14,001

15,000

430

15,001

16,000

460

16,001

17,000

480

17,001

18,000

500

18,001

19,000

530

19,001

20,000

550

20,001

22,000

580

22,001

24,000

620

24,001

26,000

670

26,001

28,000

710

28,001

30,000

760

30,001

32,000

790

32,001

34,000

840

34,001

36,000

880

36,001

38,000

930

38,001

40,000

970

40,001

42,000

1,010

42,001

44,000

1,050

44,001

46,000

1,090

46,001

48,000

1,120

48,001

50,000

1,170

50,001

52,000

1,210

52,001

54,000

1,260

54,001

56,000

1,300

56,001

58,000

1,330

58,001

60,000

1,380

60,001

62,000

1,410

62,001

64,000

1,460

64,001

66,000

1,490

66,001

68,000

1,540

68,001

70,000

1,570

70,001

75,000

1,620

75,001

80,000

1,660

80,001

85,000

1,710

85,001

90,000

1,760

90,001

95,000

1,810

95,001

100,000

1,860

100,001

110,000

1,910

110,001

120,000

1,960

120,001

130,000

2,010

130,001

140,000

2,060

140,001

150,000

2,110

150,001

160,000

2,160

160,001

170,000

2,210

170,001

180,000

2,260

180,001

190,000

2,310

190,001

200,000

2,360

200,001

250,000

2,410

250,001

300,000

2,460

300,001

350,000

2,510

350,001

400,000

2,560

400,001

450,000

2,600

450,001

500,000

2,700

500,001

and more

2,800

The fees according to the table of charges refer to a single ship or towing train pilot operation in the basin of the port of Gdańsk or the port of Elbląg and Zalew Wiślany.

The fee for the pilot work on vessels with no established size (...) shall be collected under an agreement depending on the type and size of the object piloted.

The fee collected for over 30 minutes waiting of the ordered pilot for the ship readiness to start manoeuvres is EUR 50 for every 30 minutes started.

The fee collected for the cancelled pilot service after he has entered the ship is 50 EUR.

Surcharges

The following surcharges are to be added to the rates:

for piloting ships or towing trains inside the Port of Gdańsk: 10%

for piloting ships or towing trains from the so called "old port" to the North Port and on the contrary and from the Wisła Śmiała to the port of Gdańsk across the basin of the Gulf of Gdansk and on the contrary: 50%

for pilot services in the shipyard basin: 25%

for docking, undocking and launching: 50%

for piloting ships or towing trains without efficient engines or rudders: 10%

for piloting ships or towing trains accompanied by the other pilot, at the request of the public administration authorities or when it results from the regulations: 10%

Reductions

The following reductions are to be subtracted from the rates:

tourist vessels: 25%

from 11th call within the calendar year: 25%

Agency service

Prices are given according to the "Agency Fees in Polish sea ports" of the Polish Shipbrokers' Association, valid from July 2008.

The scale of agency fees, adopted by the Association, based on vessel's summer maximum loadline dead-weight and expressed in PLN covering clearance, port operation and ship's husbandry, is to be regarded as the recommended minimum rate level to be charged by the Agents.

Owners, respectively Operators, shall place the Agents in funds, covering the estimated disbursements, in advance, but latest on vessel's arrival. For late remittance of funds Owners will be charged an interest of 5% per month or pro rata.

Agents are not responsible for currency exchange losses on any sums held for the account of the Owners or which they have to receive or pay.

The agency fees do not include any percentages, petties, bank charges, fares, deliveries of cash to Master or parcels, advertising, travelling, etc. which will be charged separately.

Should Owners require the Agents to undertake full processing and settlement of claims, the Agents are entitled to a separate remuneration as mutually agreed.

Vessels discharging and loading bulk or liquid cargo of one grade will be charged a basic fee separately for each of these operations.

Vessels arriving with inward cargo and sailing in ballast, or vessels arriving in ballast and sailing with outward cargo shall have a basic fee applied only once.